Dad's Army (TV Series) The Test (1970) User Reviews

Definitely different, just as funny.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 20 April 2018]

Dad's Army was at its definite peak by this stage, each episode is a joy. The previous episode Mums Army, had gone for something completely different, bringing romance to Captain Mainwaring. The Test is another episode which could be seen as being very different, The Home Guard taking on the ARP in cricket. Despite the present circumstances, Mainwaring still demands the highest standards, and refuses to take second place. Unfortunately the ARP side contains England legend 'Fred Trueman,' who can't wait to take Mainwaring down.

It contains some wonderfully funny moments, including Wilson aiding Godfrey back after a run, and Pike's innings, but it's the interplay between The Captain and Sergeant that makes it so good. Wilson more flippant then usual, and definitely with the upper hand, the pair share some great scenes.

Polished, funny, beautifully acted, they don't make 'em like this anymore. 8/10

Fred Trueman for the win...possibly

[grantss · 9/10 · 9 September 2022]

There's no possible way this could be a bad episode of Dad's Army as it contains a game of cricket. As an avid fan of the sport just featuring cricket gets it extra points.

Aiding this is that the producers managed to include in the cast the legendary Fred Trueman, one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and the first bowler to 300 Test wickets. He'd only retired from Test cricket five years earlier so would still have been quite a coup to get.

It does set the episode up for some explosive action though Trueman's screentime does end up being rather limited.

The match itself is quite interesting and has some great comedic moments.

Great episode.

For lovers of Cricket

[cw-16597 · 9/10 · 8 July 2021]

A wonderful episode that doesn't date, a pity this episode was as long as a test - it would have been wonderful to see the characters inner feelings.

Howzat

[Jackmichaelmassey · 10/10 · 2 August 2013]

The ARP challenge the Home Guard to a game of cricket. Always up for a challenge, Mainwaring duly obliges. After some practise in the nets, the Home Guard seem all set to go, but when Hodges manages to get EC Egan (Freddie Trueman), a man who could have played for England had the war not started, a Home Guard victory seems in jeopardy.

A top class episode by a time 'Dad's Army' was reaching top form, all the characters by this point were excellently established and the scripts were peppered by first class lines. Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier were proving to be a top class partnership by this point. On telling Wilson he needs a haircut, Mainwaring dryly tells Wilson 'you're not a violin player you know'. Likewise Wilson asks Mainwaring will Mrs Mainwaring be coming to the cricket match. 'Not really, she's not really one for outdoor sports', 'More the indoor type?' 'No, I wouldn't really say that either'. In the end the Home Guard win the match thanks to an unlikely six by the ageing Godfrey.

I am really into my cricket at the minute due to The Ashes. I was at Old Trafford yesterday watching the first day of the third test. A most excellent day out, great sportsmanship and banter by all in the crowd, the kind of thing you just don't get at the scores of football matches I go to.

Playing EC Egan was England cricket legend 'Fiery' Fred Trueman. In fact, 1970 was his second appearance in a British sitcom, he also bowled against Sid James in Fletchley in the final instalment of the massively under-rated 'Two in Clover'.

A lovely palate cleanser

[phantom_tollbooth · 7/10 · 25 June 2023]

Following the devastatingly dramatic Mum's Army with one of the breeziest low-stakes episodes of series 4 was probably a wise decision. After a glimpse deep into the troubled soul of Captain Mainwaring, it's good to see him bumbling around on a cricket pitch with the rest of the platoon in this likeable palate cleanser. The premise is simple: a cricket match between the Home Guard and the ARP wardens, in which neither side plays completely by the book in their continued attempts to outdo one another. The execution is straightforward and funny, with nice touches like Jones's overzealous wicket-keeping and the Verger's blatantly biased umpiring. The scenes of Mainwaring trying to teach the platoon how to play cricket despite them clearly being better at the game than him are also a hoot. By the end, The Test hasn't done anything particularly new or interesting in terms of story or character but it has successfully reconvened the ensemble in the wake of a very different sort of preceding episode and reminded the audience of the show's simplest pleasures at its most basic level. Episodes like this are the strong backbone around which classic series are made.